Geothermal power whose potential is enormous in Kenya is one of the country’s major economic resources as it grapples with the implementation of vision 2030 development blue- print.
Kenya is estimated to produce 15,000 MW from hot springs and out of that, Baringo County is capable of producing 3,000 MW. Baringo County is therefore sitting on a major economic resource that will produce cheap and clean electricity which will propel the country into a golden economic age.
Dr. Silas Simiyu, Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC) managing director said the water which will be generated from the processes of generating electricity can be used for irrigation and to  supplement rain-fed agriculture.
The GDC has established that the county could produce 3,000 MW of power around lakes Bogoria and Baringo. The area is called the Bogoria-Silale block, which comprises of lakes and Arus, Korosi, Chepchuk, Paka and Silale.
Dr. Simiyu said GDC will develop Bogoria-Silale block in four phases. By 2017, the first phase will produce 800 MW of electricity while phase two will produce 400 MW by 2019. The third phase will produce 400 MW by 2021 and phase four 400 MW by 2023.
Mr. John Langat, GDC’s chief geologist said that Bogoria- Silale block will open up the northern frontiers of the Country, help in making electricity cheap and affordable. According to Kenya’s economic blueprint, the country must generate 15,000 MW in the next 20 years if it is to realize its vision 2030.
Currently, electricity generation in Kenya stands at 1,350 MW. This therefore contributes to frequent power blackouts due to rising demand and the geothermal wells are expected to provide Baringo with enough power to run its own industries.
Kenya started exploring geothermal energy in the Menengai crater in Nakuru where the first well, opened in May this year, is already producing 10MW.Rift Valley Water Services Board and GDC are working together to convert the steam water, a by-product of geothermal power in Menengai and supply treated water to the consumers in Nakuru.
The same could be done for Baringo where the main economic activity is keeping livestock and bees. In addition to tourism resources in Baringo, geothermal power will spur the growth and prosperity of the county.
Foreign companies are now competing for geothermal exploration and production in Kenya. Chinese firms are drilling geothermal steam wells at Ol Karia while Japan and France through African Development Fund (AFD) have expressed interest in the exploitation of the new geothermal wells.
GDC and Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KENGEN) and the foreign firms have sunk more than 50 geothermal wells in the country. The use of electricity is now in high demand in Kenya and the country needs 15,000 MW of power of power to achieve its vision 2030 development plan.
Inadequate electricity supply and high demand are some of the energy problems facing our neighbouring countries and already Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania have embarked on the exploitation of geothermal steam wells.
A geologist in the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources Mr. Enoch Kipseba, said by effectively increasing the amount of geothermal power produced in the country, the GDC move is expected to consolidate Kenya’s efforts of reducing the over reliance on hydropower as well as the need to use diesel power generation.
In Kenya’s middle income economic blue-print, the vision 2030, it is envisaged that there will be a Gross Domestic Product growth rate of 10% starting next year.
It is however projected that electricity demand will grow in tandem. In a projected electricity demand of about 15,000 MW by 2030, Mr. Kipseba said it is expected that at least 5,000 MW of geothermal generation will partly meet this demand.
Mr. Langat further said Baringo geothermal projects require Sh 291 billion for the development of the renewable energy sources which will help to end the country’s current power woes.
With Kenya reeling from the double blow of high oil prices and electricity rationing, there is no doubt that geothermal energy throughout the country will be given the seriousness that it deserves. This is because geothermal power provides a clean, renewable and affordable fuel of economic growth.
